Chapter 18

皇恩重元妃省父母

天伦乐宝玉献词华

Preparations are complete after months of hard work, and so Zheng finally sends in a written application for a Visitation, which is accepted. Eunuchs and officials inspect the area while the household puts on the finishing touches. On the appointed day, the household gathers, but a eunuch tells them to disband – they are much too early. She arrives to much pomp; she declares the garden ‘so extravagant’. It transpires that most of the place names used are those suggested by Baoyu, leading to an aside from the Stone on Baoyu and Yuanchun’s early relationship. Several inscriptions are changed at her suggestion.

Yuanchun kowtows to Grandmother Jia out of instinct, leading to high emotions all round. Senior eunuchs are led away to be entertained, and Yuanchun is able to chat informally with her family. She talks with Zheng through a curtain (men need ‘special reason’) to see her, and expresses her pleasure at Baoyu’s inscriptions. She summons him, and asks him to lead her on an inspection of the garden. The decorations and entertainments are extravagant, and she again berates the family. She dispenses with court etiquette and sits down to dinner; she chooses to call the garden ‘Prospect Garden’ and alters some place names. She requests Baoyu write octets for her four favourite places, and the girls offer octets too. Baochai sneaks a look at his poems and offers a suggestion based on Yuanchun’s observed tastes. Yuanchun is delighted. The plays begin, and Yuanchun sends confectionary to her favourite of the actresses, Charmante 龄官. Yuanchun completes her tour of the garden, and gives presents to each of her family. She is in tears as she is recalled to the Palace.

Chapter 17 - supercondensed

With the new garden completed, Baoyu is asked to join Zhen, Zheng and a group of literary gentlemen composing suitable inscriptions. He impresses at first, but is dismissed after infuriating Zheng by showing off. Daiyu and Baoyu argue after she thinks he has given away a purse made for him; in fact, he has treasured the purse and they make up. A number of actresses and nuns joins the household.

Chapter 17

大观园试才题对额 荣国府归省庆元宵

 

Work on the new garden is completed, and Zhen and Zheng need to decide on the inscriptions. They and the literary gentlemen decide to compose temporary inscriptions on lantern and let Yuanchun decide permanent names. Zhen runs ahead to warn that they will be taking a tour of the garden for this end; Baoyu tries to leave but bumps into the party. On the basis of his reported skill for composing couplets, Zheng asks Baoyu to join them. The party follow the garden path and inspect aspects of the garden at length, making naming suggestions at various locations; Baoyu impresses all with both his criticisms of others’ and his own offerings, but while Zheng is quietly pleased, he doesn’t accept them for fear of overindulgence, eventually erupting in anger at him.

The garden and buildings are exquisite, but Baoyu loses the support of the literary gentlemen when he begins to question nature and artifice. Zheng is furious, and criticises his effort at a couplet; this happens several more times, including at the intended residence for Yuanchun, at which point Baoyu has become more reticent to express opinions.

At last Baoyu is dismissed by his father, and is told by a group of pages that it was their lack of intervention that allowed him to show off, and so they take his possessions as rewards. Daiyu assumes this includes a purse she gave him, and she is angry, and cuts up a perfume sachet she was making for him, which she comes to regret – he has treasured the purse inside his clothing, and throws it back at her, calling her stingy. They make up, emotionally.

Qiang has returned from Suzhou with twelve actresses, causing excitement. They move to a drama school in the Xues’ old quarters. Twenty four nuns have also just been selected, and an ‘unshaved nun’ called Adamantina 妙玉 is invited to join them.

Chapter 16 - supercondensed

It is Zheng’s birthday, and news comes of a promotion at the Palace for Yuanchun. Qin Zhong is ill, exacerbated by his father dying suddenly after discovering about Qin’s dalliances. Daiyu returns, and the household prepares for a rare visitation from Yuanchun, including the construction of a new residence. Qin Zhong dies with Baoyu at his side.

Chapter 16

The cold and frolics of their time away leads to Qin contracting a chill and losing his appetite – Baoyu’s study is now ready, but they can’t study together as a result. The result of Xifeng’s attempt to settle Euergesia’s matter is that the girl concerned hangs herself, and her fiancé drowns himself. Lady Wang hears nothing of this, but the profit to Xifeng means that she takes on many similar cases.

All of Ningguo and Rongguo are celebrating Zheng’s birthday, when the Master of the Bedchamber arrives to ask for Zheng’s immediate presence at Court. Four hours later, he summons the seniors ladies; Rongguo Chief Steward Lai Da 赖大 explains that Yuanchun 贾元春 has been appointed Chief Secretary to the Empress and Imperial Concubine.

Baoyu is the sole person not sharing their delight: Sapientia had come looking for Qin Zhong, and his father Qin Bangye 秦邦业 subsequently gives him a beating. Bangye, however, is taken ill from shock at the discovery and dies within five days; the grief and remorse leads to further complications in Qin Zhong’s illness. The rest of the family laugh at Baoyu’s lack of enthusiasm. A messenger arrives to announce the imminent arrival of Lian and Daiyu, as well as Yucun, who had an audience with the Emperor having been recommended by Wang Ziteng for a metropolitan post. When Daiyu arrives, they share the grief of the two deaths, and Baoyu recognises something more ethereal about her. She rejects his gift of the Prince’s rosary.

Xifeng is modest about her achievements to Lian. Lian is unimpressed that Caltrop – who he considers to have blossomed - has become Pan’s chamber wife, and Xifeng suggests swapping her and Patience. Xifeng receives her interest from her money, which is clumsily concealed from Lian. They then eat with Lian’s old wet nurse who embarrasses him. Lian has learned that the Emperor is to allow Imperial Concubines to visit their homes; they chatter about previous Imperial visits. Jia Rong arrives to announce plans to construct a separate residence for the visitation in All-Scents Garden. Jia Qiang is to go to Suzhou to engage musicians and performers. Xifeng recommends two reliable men to go with him, and snubs Rong’s obsequiousness.

Work begins on the new site, and pooling resources between Ningguo and Rongguo it is not too expensive and easily accommodated between sites. A consortium led by She (who does very little), Zhen (who does most of the work along with the Stewards) and Lian are in charge. Baoyu still can’t be happy about anything, particularly when he hears from Tealeaf that Qin is dying. He rushes to Qin, who is slipping in and out of consciousness, and his arrival is not appreciated by the ladies in Qin’s attendance. Qin, who is already engaged with the ministers of the underworld, eventually heeds his calls, causing trepidation amongst the demons and officers who fear his jade, and allow Qin briefly to regain consciousness before he finally dies.

Chapter 15 - supercondensed

 

The procession passes through a farm, where Baoyu is taken with a farm girl. After the ceremony, Xifeng, Baoyu and Qin Zhong stay at Watermoon Priory, where Qin Zhong makes a move on a disciple, and Baoyu catches them in flagrante. Xifeng helps the prioress with a profitable matter.

Chapter 15

王凤姐弄权铁槛寺 

 秦鲸卿得趣馒头庵 

Baoyu impresses the Prince, although he expresses concern that too much affection can have bad side effects. The Prince gives him a rosary of Indian seeds. The funeral procession continues, but out of fear that he would get up to mischief, Xifeng asks Baoyu to ride in a sedan with her, not on horseback with the other young men. The procession goes through a simple farm, in which Xifeng asks Baoyu and the boys to amuse themselves. Baoyu is impressed at the farming equipment, and is reprimanded by a farm girl, Ertie 二丫头, for using a loom. Baoyu is taken with her, and looks out for her as they leave the farm.

At the Ning-Rong Temple of the Iron Threshold, the less well-off Jia members take advantage of the guest rooms after the ceremony. Xifeng, Baoyu and Qin Zhong make for nearby Watermoon Priory to stay, where they are met by Prioress Euergesia 净虚. Baoyu ribs Qin Zhong about disciple Sapientia, a regular visitor to Rongguo who had fallen in love with Qin, who reciprocates. She brings them tea, which they fight over, before being called away.

Euergesia approaches Xifeng about an amorous matter concerning contacts of theirs in Chang’an, and Xifeng agrees to help out for significant profit. Meanwhile, Qin Zhong makes his move on Sapientia; Baoyu surprises them in flagrante, shaming Sapientia; Baoyu promises to ‘settle accounts’ with Qin later when they are in bed. Xifeng puts the jade under her pillow for safety. Xifeng allows them to stay for an extra day, and commands Brightie 旺儿 to attend to Euergesia’s affair in Lian’s name. Qin and Sapientia make all sorts of secret vows.